Indeed.
It is probably true (speculating here) that VR does not represent enough of a market size to take it as a priority, and economically the cost/benefit equation may not be very favorable, but even so there is much more than meets the eye here. The fact that Elite has been (or even still is) one of the main references in quality VR probably confers a lot of benefits to FDEV that are less obvious and more difficult to quantify because they are maybe based in purchase decisions that in turn are based in the game´s reputation and prestige, weather the buyer has VR or not. Or simply due to the additional market prominency and visibility that this leading VR position offers to the Elite brand.
Being one of the most well recognized VR games out there can also open up a significant ammount of doors in terms of business relationships with other industry related houses, be it other developers, distributors, suppliers, investors etc.
Overall the issue is much, much more complex that the simple cost/benefit equation, which is why I think (or rather hope!) that FDEV will not leave it easily to rot on the sideroad.